Vegetable peeler



Nov. 11, 1941. l. A. CARLSON v l2,262,383

VEGE'IABLE PEELER Filed sept. 19, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 /H /z /f y /0 3 .se f7 j 37 54 mi; Z A l (n35- 43N f6 p ,l/ A "f5 z/Q L25, J/ J 40 V9. mlm ,VW 6

IN V EN TOR:

Nov; 11, 1941.

S. A. CARLSON VEGETABLE PEELER 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1940 INVENTOR- Patented Nov. 11, 1941 NFI TED "STAT ES IPAT `fE N T OFFICE VE GETABLE. PEELER,

Stanleyf'A. Carlson, Passaic, `N. J.

`Application September 19, 1940,\Serial No. 357,346

Claims. (C1. 146-.50)

The ,present invention relates to vegetable peelers and is more particularly concerned with machines for peeling potatoes..

The object andgeneral nature of this inventionis the `provisionuof apotatolpeeler inwhich a rotatable abrasive member, on which the potatoes are supported, is driven in such a manner as to grind off the outer skin or peeling from potatoes and other vegetables rapidly and efciently. vAnimportantfeature of this invention is the'provision of a rotary hopper bottom member which is coated or otherwise provided with an abrasive surface and which, in addition, is providedwith means for agitating the potatoes so as to secure, in effect, a generally vertical circulation of the potatoes, whereby all are peeled uniformly with the least possibledoss.

More specifically, itis .aifeatureof thisinvention to provide-a vegetable peeler rof the abrasive disc type in` which the` disc is .formed with or carries raised sections" that impart vertical movement to thepotatoes. Preferably, the raised `sections or humps also have an abrasive surface so that, in addition, *to thoroughly `mixing the potatoes, they cooperate with the disc proper in removing the peelings.

Another feature ofthis inventionis to -provide a vegetable peeler in which the driving mechanism is compactly arranged in thelower 'part of the `supporting housing so that the machine is free of protruding parts, is readily portable, 'and is easy to clean; f l

These and other objects andadvantages of the present invention will tbe apparent to those skilled in the art after aiconsideration of the following `detailed description ofthe preferred ,'form of my invention, which isillustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is va vertical section of `a vegetable peeler .in which the principles ofthe present invention have vbeen incorporated;

`Figure 2 is a top or plan viewcertain parts being broken away; and

Figure 3 is a perspective ofithe peeling disc. i

The vegetable peeler of thepresent invention comprisesa pot or hopper' I, preferably formed of cast aluminum or'the like, which is closed at its lower end 2 and is `openlat its' upper end `and has a radially outwardly extendingfflange 3. The lower face of the latter has a groove 4 to receive the upper beaded end 5 oan enclosing and supporting casing Vof generally A cylindrical .construction. The lower end 1 Aof 'thelatter `is turned inwardly and receives three `supporting.blocks 8.

The upper endoi the Vhopper I is formed with a groove I0 to receive the lower flange II of a cover I2 which has anopenmouth I3 `and upper and lower flan-ges I4 and I5. The hopper I and the enclosing and supporting casing are disposed eccentrically, which forms a space I1 between the hopper and one side of the casing.

The bottom of the hopper I isV `formed with three lugs 2l,` 22 and 23 which ycooperate with the flange 3 to locate the hopper in the'casing. Screws 25 serve to hold the hopper in position in the casing. The hopper `bottom wall 2 *is also provided with a downwardly extending bearing sleeve section 28 .in which a vertical shaft is journaled for rotation in suitable bearing means 29. `The lower end of the shaft, which is indicated by the reference numeral 3|, receives a spur gear 32 Vandthe `upper end Yof the' shaft is tapered and `is received'iin'a socket 35 formed in the' hub section 36 of an abrasive disc, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 31. `The hub 36 seats on an anti-friction thrust bearing `39 and is removable by merely lifting the disc member v31 off the upper end of the shaft 3 I. A pin 40 or the like establishes a driving connection between the shaft 3| andthe disc 31.

The inner `wall of the hopper I above the disc member 31 is provided with vertical ribs 44 to give thepotatoes or other vegetables a certain amount of horizontal agitation, and the lower wall 2 ofthe hopper I is formed with two spaced apart concentricupstanding anges 45 and 46. A depending ange' 41 is formed on the body of the .disc member 31 and is concentric with the hub 36, lying between thetwo upstandinglanges 45 and 46. Also depending from the lower face of the vdisc `.member 31 is a vane 49 which is dis-- posed near the rim of the member131 and rotates therewith `between the' outer wall of the hopper I and outermost ange `45, in an annular space indicated by the reference numeral 5|] with which an outlet pipe 53 of relatively large diameter communicates; `The pipe 53 is fastened securely in leaktight relation in a sleeve section 54. The latter is disposed in the space I1 between the `hopper I and the side of the supporting casing 6. An inlet pipe 55 is disposed at the other side.

The peeling disc31'is preferably formed of cast iron or the like and its upper surface is provided with an abrasive coating indicatedv at 56. The upper surface off the member 31 is iiat or planar except for two raised sections or humps 51 ydisposed at the rim orperiphery of the disc 31'andin diam-etrically opposite positions," as best shown in Figure 2. The uppersurfaces of the raised sections 51 are, like the main body of the disc 31, coated with an abrasive. Preferably, as best shown in Figure 3, the upper surfaces of the humps 51 join smoothly with the rest of the surface of the disc. The upper surface of the latter is flat except for the humps. Disc 31 is lifted out by hand holes 5B.

The disc 31 is driven by driving mechanism disposed compactly in the lower part of the casing 6 underneath the hopper I.' The driving mechanism comprises a motor 60 arranged with its driving shaft BI disposed in a vertical position and to the upper end of which is secured a driving pinion B2 which meshes with the spur gear 32 that is fixed to the lower end of the disc shaft 3|. The motor 60 is supported in any suitable manner, as by lugs 63, on a bracket 64 depending from the bottom 2 of the hopper I. The bracket is formed and placed so that the gear 32 clears the bracket and so that the motor 60 is disposed in that side of the casing 6 adjacent the space I1. In other words, as shown in Figure 1, the axis of the hopper I and the shaft 3| are displaced to the left, relative to the casing 6, so as to provide ample room for the motor, yet the whole of the driving mechanism is disposed in the casing 6 and protected thereby. Suitable conductors 61 lead current in to the motor, under the control of a switch 68 and connections therefrom to the motor.

The operation of the vegetablev peeler described above is substantially as follows:

A charge or batch of, say, potatoes of about ten or fifteen pounds is put in the hopper I and the motor is started. This rotates the peeling disc 31 and the peelings are ground away from the potatoes. l The two `raised sections 51 on the rim of the disc constantly change the position of the potatoes, imparting to them a generally Vertical circulation; in other words, the potatoes that originally laid on the disc are thrown upward and the potatoes on the top drop to the bottom. During the peeling operation a hose is of supply and water is circulated through the f potatoes. This carries the peelings, sand, grit and the like down into the annular chamber 50, and the material is then given a swirling movement by the vane 49 on the rotating disc 31. Centrifugal action thus forces the water, peelings, grit, dirt and the like out the outlet 53 to a suitable point of discharge. The outlet 53, it will be noted, is of generous size so that the refuse material ows freely out of the machine. The disposition of the motor vertically and mounting it by the vertical bracket 64 which is fastened to the lower wall of the hopper I make for an extremely compact unit, speciically one in which the outer or supporting casing is a simple cylindrical member, with the hopper in the upper part and all of the driving mechanism in the lower part. This protects the mechanism, eliminates splash guards and other protruding parts that take up space, and renders the mechanism practically soundproof.

While I have shown and described above the preferred construction in which the principles of my invention have been embodied, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be utilized in carrying out the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vegetable peeler comprising an outer casing, a vegetable hopper having an upper radially outwardly extending flange receiving and supported on the upper edge of the casing, the flange being eccentric' with respect to the main body of the hopper, whereby the latter is supported within the casing adjacent one side thereof with a space between the hopper and the other side of the casing, peeling means in said hopper, the latter having an opening therein adjacent said other side of the casing, and a sleeve communicating with said hopper opening and disposed in said space.

2. A vegetable peeler 4comprising an outer casing, a vegetable hopper supported in the upper part of said casing in eccentric relation, so as to dispose the aXis of the hopper closer to one side of the outer casing than the other, a peeling disk mounted rotatably in the hopper coaxially thereof, a shaft extending through the bottom of the hopper for driving the peeling disk, a gear on the lower end of said shaft, and driving mechanism in the lower part of the casing below the hopper and including a motor disposed in said casing adjacent said other side of the hopper and a pinion on the shaft of the motor meshing with the gear on said disk driving shaft for driving the latter.

3. A vegetable peeler comprising an outer casing, a vegetable hopper supported in the upper part of said casing in a generally vertical position therein with its vertical axis displaced toward one side of the casing in eccentric relation therewith, a rotatable peeling disc in the lower part of the hopper, a shaft extending downwardly through the bottom wall of the hopper, a spur gear on the lower end of said shaft, a bracket depending from the lower wall of said hopper, and a motor mounted on said bracket and disposed in vertical position underneath said hopper and within the lower part of said casing adjacent the other side thereof, said motor having a pinion meshing with said spur gear.

4. A vegetable peeler comprising an outer casing, a vegetable hopper having an upper radially outwardly extending ange receiving and supporting the hopper on the upper edge of the casing, said flange being eccentric with respect to the main body of the hopper, whereby the latter is supported within the casing adjacent one side thereof with a space between the hopper and the other side of the casing, locating lugs on said hopper, said lugs corresponding to the degree of eccentricity of the hopper relative to the casing, a rotatable peeling disc removably supported for rotation in said hopper, a shaft for driving said peeling disc, a bracket formed integrally with the bottom of said hopper and extending downwardly therefrom alongside said shaft, a gear on the latter, a driving motor supported on said bracket and having a driving pinion meshing with said gear, said motor being supported by said bracket in a vertical position adjacent the other side of said casing, means for circulating drain water through the hopper, said peeling disc being supported above the bottom of the hopper, an outlet from the hopper below the peeling disc and above the bottom of the hopper, and a vane on the lower side of the peeling disc for delivering peelings, dirt and the like to said outlet.

5. A vegetable peeler comprising an outer casing, a vegetable hopper having an upper radially outwardly extending ange receiving and supporting the hopper on the upper edge of the casing, said flange being eccentric with respect to the main body of the hopper, whereby the latter is supported within the casing adjacent one side ofthe latter with a spacebetween the hopper and the other sideof the casing, a rotatable peeling disc supported for rotation in said hopper, a shaft for driving said peeling disc, a

bracket extending downwardly from the bottom of the hopper alongside said shaft, a gear on the latter, and a driving motor supported on said bracket and having a driving pinion meshing with said gear, said motor being supported by said bracket in a vertical position adjacent the other side ofsaid casing. Y

6. A vegetable peeler comprising a substantially cylindrical outerr supporting casing, an inner hopper having a flange at its upper end and a closed lower end, said flange being eccentric with respect to the hopper, whereby the axis of the latter is spaced closer -to one side of said casing than the other side, a rotor supported above the bottom of said hopper for rotation about the axisthereof, a driving shaft for said rotor extending through the bottom of said hopper, a gear fixed to the lower end of said shaft for rotation therewith in a horizontal plane, a bracket depending from said hopper bottom, a

motor disposed in a vertical position within the lower part of said casing below said hopper and generally in the larger space between the axis of said driving shaft and gear and said other side of the casing, and a gear `on'the motorshaft meshing drivingly with the gear on said rotor shaft.

7. A vegetable peeler comprising a supporting casing, a hopper disposed within the upper part of said casing and supported thereby, said hopper having a closed bottom and an outlet sleeve projecting generally laterally outwardly for accommodating the discharge of peelings and the like from the interior of the hopper, and a discharge pipe extending through said supporting casing and connecting with said sleeve, said hopper being supported eccentrically within said supporting casing so as to provide space at one side of the hopper and the casing to accommodate said sleeve.

8. The invention set forth in claim 7, further characterized by vane means depending from the radially outer part of said peeling disc and spaced radially from the flange on the disc a distance sufcient to accommodate the outer of said upstanding concentric flanges on the hopper bottom. Y

9. A vegetable peeler comprising a supporting casing, a hopper disposed within said casing and supported thereby in eccentric relation so that `there is a greater space between one side of the hopper and said casing than at the other sideof l the hopper and casing, said hopper having an outlet sleeve at said one side of the hopper `ex- 

